Climbing Gator, 107 Sea Turtle Eggs, Patient Thief: Weird Florida

Patch operates 23 daily news sites in Florida. The following are some of the wackier, wonderful or just plain weird stories from the past few weeks that have had people talking:

Man Swiped 107 Sea Turtle Eggs From Mother Turtle, Officials Say

A 49-year-old Tequesta man faces criminal charges after officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say they caught him in the act of swiping protected loggerhead sea turtle eggs while the mother turtle was in the process of laying them.

Gator Goes Out On a (Tree) Limb

Florida residents are accustomed to alligators getting out and stretching their legs this time of year. Sightings in residential neighborhoods, along busy streets and even on sandy beaches aren’t all that uncommon. But it’s not every day that an alligator is spotted hanging out in a tree.

Deputies Were Waiting for 4 Charged in Shoplifting Spree

Four people pulled up to Bradenton’s Burlington Coat Factory Wednesday evening in a black Lexus. They left in sheriff’s office cruisers.

Howl-O-Scream Looking for Terrifying Talented Performers

Tampa Bay area residents with a penchant for giving folks the creeps may find an upcoming job opportunity too good to pass up on. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced the dates it intends to audition performers for this year’s Howl-O-Scream.

Pokémon GO Prompts Praise, Warnings from Local Police

The Pokémon GO craze has struck the Tampa Bay area in a very big way with players taking to the streets to find virtual creatures on their smartphones in a race to “catch ‘em all.”

Patient Car Thief Waited Hours To Drive Away: Cops

Patience is a virtue even car thieves can appreciate. At least, that seems to have been the case for one accused Tampa car thief last week.

Manatee Mating: No Cause For Alarm, Officials Say

Manatees need love, too. That’s the message the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is trying to get out as manatee mating season heats up right along with the state’s outdoor temperatures.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission